TY - JOUR
T1 - Malaria control in Botswana, 2008-2012
T2 - The path towards elimination
AU - Simon, Chihanga
AU - Moakofhi, Kentse
AU - Mosweunyane, Tjantilili
AU - Jibril, Haruna Baba
AU - Nkomo, Bornapate
AU - Motlaleng, Mpho
AU - Ntebela, Davies Sedisa
AU - Chanda, Emmanuel
AU - Haque, Ubydul
N1 - Funding Information:
Botswana is targeting malaria elimination by 2015. The programme is in the process of re-orienting towards malaria elimination. Case based surveillance implementation started in October, 2012 following training of health workers from all districts. Surveillance has been strengthened and provision of vector control interventions in non spraying districts is determined now by entomological investigations. Programme is in process of identifying transmission foci and plans to target interventions. A midterm review of the strategic plan conducted in October 2013 indicated that Botswana is still within reach of its 2015 target, but there is need to strengthen surveillance and targeting of vector control interventions. Achieve and maintenance of malaria elimination in Botswana will be challenging [27]. Importation of malaria cases in Botswana from endemic countries can jeopardize elimination goal [28]. Major obstacles to malaria elimination in low endemic setting like Zanzibar including trained manpower, and inadequate malaria education can be a lesson for Botswana too [29]. There is inadequate funding for elimination as the programme is mainly funded by Botswana government with limited LLIN donation by ‘the UNICEF’, ‘Malaria No More’, ‘Government of Japan’, ‘Anglican Church’, ‘Red Cross’, ‘Rotary foundation’ and ‘Indian Government’. International donor funding will be helpful to support the elimination goal.
PY - 2013/12/20
Y1 - 2013/12/20
N2 - Background: Botswana has made substantial progress towards malaria elimination across the country. This work assessed interventions and epidemiological characteristics of malaria in Botswana, during a period of decreasing transmission intensity. Methods. National passive malaria surveillance data for five years (2008-2012) were analysed. A district-level, random effects model with Poisson regression was used to explore the association between malaria cases and coverage with long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS). Malaria cases were mapped to visualize spatio-temporal variation in malaria for each year. Results: Within five years, a reduction in malaria prevalence (approximately 98%) and number of deaths (12 to three) was observed. Between 2008 and 2012, 237,050 LLINs were distributed and 596,979 rooms were sprayed with insecticides. Coverage with LLINs and IRS was not uniformly distributed over the study period and only targeted the northern districts with a high malaria burden. The coverage of IRS was associated with a reduction in malaria cases. Conclusions: Botswana has made significant strides towards its goal of country-wide elimination of malaria. A major challenge in the future will be prevention and management of imported malaria infections from neighbouring countries. In order to accurately monitor progress towards the elimination goal, the malaria control programme (NMP) should strengthen the reporting and capturing of data at household and individual level. Systematic, periodic operational research to feedback the NMP will help to guide and achieve elimination.
AB - Background: Botswana has made substantial progress towards malaria elimination across the country. This work assessed interventions and epidemiological characteristics of malaria in Botswana, during a period of decreasing transmission intensity. Methods. National passive malaria surveillance data for five years (2008-2012) were analysed. A district-level, random effects model with Poisson regression was used to explore the association between malaria cases and coverage with long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS). Malaria cases were mapped to visualize spatio-temporal variation in malaria for each year. Results: Within five years, a reduction in malaria prevalence (approximately 98%) and number of deaths (12 to three) was observed. Between 2008 and 2012, 237,050 LLINs were distributed and 596,979 rooms were sprayed with insecticides. Coverage with LLINs and IRS was not uniformly distributed over the study period and only targeted the northern districts with a high malaria burden. The coverage of IRS was associated with a reduction in malaria cases. Conclusions: Botswana has made significant strides towards its goal of country-wide elimination of malaria. A major challenge in the future will be prevention and management of imported malaria infections from neighbouring countries. In order to accurately monitor progress towards the elimination goal, the malaria control programme (NMP) should strengthen the reporting and capturing of data at household and individual level. Systematic, periodic operational research to feedback the NMP will help to guide and achieve elimination.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84890504650&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/1475-2875-12-458
DO - 10.1186/1475-2875-12-458
M3 - Article
C2 - 24359262
AN - SCOPUS:84890504650
SN - 1475-2875
VL - 12
JO - Malaria Journal
JF - Malaria Journal
IS - 1
M1 - 458
ER -